Photoacoustic image evaluation apparatus, method, and program, and photoacoustic image generation apparatus

Abstract

A photoacoustic image evaluation apparatus includes a processor configured to acquire a first photoacoustic image generated at a first point in time and a second photoacoustic image generated at a second point in time before the first point in time, the first and second photoacoustic images being photoacoustic images generated by detecting photoacoustic waves generated inside a subject, who has been subjected to blood vessel regeneration treatment, by emission of light into the subject; acquire a blood vessel regeneration index, which indicates a state of a blood vessel by the regeneration treatment, based on a difference between a blood vessel included in the first photoacoustic image and a blood vessel included in the second photoacoustic image; and display the blood vessel regeneration index on a display.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a Continuation of PCT International Application No. PCT / JP2017 / 030303 filed on Aug. 24, 2017, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C § 119(a) to Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-220110 filed on Nov. 11, 2016. Each of the above application(s) is hereby expressly incorporated by reference, in its entirety, into the present application.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates to a photoacoustic image evaluation apparatus, a photoacoustic image evaluation method, a non-transitory computer readable recording medium storing a photoacoustic image evaluation program, and a photoacoustic image generation apparatus for acquiring and displaying a blood vessel regeneration index based on a photoacoustic image generated by detecting photoacoustic waves generated inside a subject, who has been subjected to blood vessel regeneration treatment, by emission of light into the subject.2. D...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a photoacoustic image evaluation apparatus, method, program, and photoacoustic image generation apparatus that can accurately check the effect of blood vessel regeneration treatment. This is achieved by acquiring two photoacoustic images of the subject before and after the treatment, and calculating a blood vessel regeneration index based on the difference between the blood vessels in the two images. The index is then displayed on the screen, allowing for easy and accurate assessment of the treatment's effect.

Problems solved by technology

However, it is difficult to check fine regenerated blood vessels with the vascular imaging method using the contrast method.

However, it is difficult to check the effect of regeneration treatment simply by checking the current photoacoustic image.

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